This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Discussion about the problems with the sole source used may be found on the talk page. (September 2007)

Kaiser of the Austrian Empire, Franz I (1804–1835)

Kaiser is the German title meaning "Emperor", with Kaiserin being the female equivalent, "Empress". Like the Russian Czar it is directly derived from the Roman Emperors' title of Caesar, which in turn is derived from the personal name of a branch of the gens (clan) Julia, to which Gaius Julius Caesar, the forebear of the first imperial family, belonged. Although the British monarchs styled "Emperor of India" were also called "Kaisar-i-Hind" in Hindi and Urdu, this word, although ultimately sharing the same Latin origin, is derived from the Greek Kaisar, not the German Kaiser.^[1]

In English, the term the Kaiser is usually reserved for the Emperors of the German Empire, the emperors of the Austrian Empire and those of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the First World War, the term the Kaiser — especially as applied to Wilhelm II of Germany — gained considerable pejorative connotations in English-speaking countries.

German history and antecedents of the title[link]

The Holy Roman Emperors (962–1806) called themselves Kaiser,^{[citation needed]} combining the imperial title with that of Roman King (assumed by the designated heir before the imperial coronation); they saw their rule as a continuation of that of the Roman Emperors and used the title derived from the title Caesar to reflect their supposed heritage.^{[citation needed]}

The rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1804–1918) were drawn from the Habsburg dynasty, who, after 1438, provided most of Holy Roman Emperors. The Austrian-Hungarian rulers adopted the title Kaiser. There were only three Kaisers of the Austrian Empire, the successor empire to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation), and they have all belonged to the Habsburg dynasty. The successor empire to the Austrian Empire was termed the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which had only two Kaisers, both again from the Habsburg dynasty.

In 1871, there was much debate about the exact title for the monarch of those German territories (such as free imperial cities, principalities, duchies, and kingdoms) that agreed to unify under the leadership of Prussia, thereby forming the German Empire.^{[citation needed]} Deutscher Kaiser ("German Emperor") was chosen over alternatives such as Kaiser von Deutschland ("Emperor of Germany"), or Kaiser der Deutschen ("Emperor of the Germans"),^{[citation needed]} as the chosen title simply connoted that the new emperor, hearkening from Prussia, was a German, but did not imply that this new emperor had dominion over all German territories.^{[citation needed]} There were only three Kaisers of the (second) German Empire. All of them belonged to the Hohenzollern dynasty, which, as kings of Prussia, had been de facto leaders of lesser Germany.

In English the (untranslated) word Kaiser is mainly associated with the emperors of the unified German Empire (1871–1918), in particular with Kaiser Wilhelm II, and with the emperors of Austria-Hungary, in particular with Kaiser Franz Joseph I.^{[citation needed]}

The Kaisers of the Austrian Empire (1804–1867) and of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1918) were:

• Franz I (1804–1835)
• Ferdinand I (1835–1848)
• Franz Joseph I (1848–1916)
• Karl I (1916–1918)

The Kaisers of the German Empire (1871–1918) were:

• Wilhelm I (1871–1888);
• Frederick III (9 March-15 June 1888), who ruled for 99 days;
• Wilhelm II (1888–1918), during whose reign the monarchy in Germany ended near the end of World War I.

See also[link]

• German Monarchy
• German nobility
• List of German monarchs
• Qaisar

References[link]

Look up kaiser in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (November 2009)

Michael Mittermeier (2007)

Michael Mittermeier (b. 3 April 1966 in Dorfen, Upper Bavaria) is a German comedian.

Life[link]

Michael Mittermeier was born in Dorfen, Upper Bavaria. During his childhood he lived in Bavaria. After school he learned theatre. In 1996, Mittermeier started the comedy program Zapped.^[1] Mittermeier earned his fame with his comedy show „Zapped“ (1996) which was shown on his tours in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He also participated in different comedy television shows as well as the German TV show “Wetten, dass..?”. The most well-known parts of Zapped are parodies of German advertisements as well as the US television series MacGyver, which later became a running gag. Mittermeier popularized the term “Arschgeweih” (literally: ass antler) (tramp stamp). The next comedy programs were Wahnsinnlich (1990), Zapped! (1999), Back to Life (2002), Paranoid (2004), Safari (2007) and "Achtung, Baby!" (2010). In 2001, he was featured in the music video for the Guano Apes (credited here as the Guano Babes) song, "Kumba Yo", which received massive airplay on various music channels that year.

Mittermeier was also involved in the 2010 documentary This Prison Where I Live, featuring the Burmese comedian Zarganar who was imprisoned by his country's military junta for lampooning and speaking out against them.

^[2] Mittermeier has been married to singer Gudrun Allwang since 1998.

Literature[link]

1998: Im Rausch der Kanäle (book together with Thomas Hermanns and Gudrun Allwang)

2010: Achtung, Baby!

Awards[link]

• Grazer Kleinkunstvogel
  • 1988
• Prix Pantheon
  • 1996: Publikumspreis Beklatscht & Ausgebuht
• Goldene Europa
  • 1998: Category Comedy
• Deutscher Comedypreis
  • 1999: Best Comedian (Publikumspreis)
  • 2000: Best Comedian (Publikumspreis)
  • 2002: Best Live-Comedy for „Back to life“
  • 2004: Best Live-Comedy
  • 2008: Best Comedian
• Eins Live Krone (WDR)
  • 2000: Best Comedian
  • 2001: Best Comedian
• Echo
  • 2001: Category Comedy
• Schneestern von Arosa
  • 2000
• Zeck-Kabarettpreis
  • 2005: Award

Notes[link]

1. ^ ZDF:Biography Michael Mittermeier
2. ^ Mittermeier:Safari

External links[link]

• Michael Mittermeier

Dirk Bach
Dirk Bach with colleague Hella von Sinnen 2006 at an AIDS charity party in Cologne
Born	Dirk Bach (1961-04-23) 23 April 1961 (age 51) Cologne
Occupation	Comedy actor
Awards	Boggslaward

Dirk Bach (23 April 1961 in Cologne) is a German television comedy actor, best known as Pepe^[1] in the German version of Sesamstraße and as an actor in television series Lukas.

Life[link]

After school Bach worked in theatres in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, New York City, Utrecht and Vienna, Boggalhausen. In 1992 Bach was part of the theatre group in Cologne at the Schauspielhaus and appeared on the German television channel RTL on the Dirk Bach Show. Bach performed in Lukas (1996–2001) on the German television channel ZDF, for which he received the Telestar award (1996), the German Comedy Award (1999) and the Goldene Kamera (2001).

In 2002, Bach starred in Der kleine Mönch on German television channel ZDF. Bach worked in Sesamstraße as the character Pepe. He often performs with Hella von Sinnen on different television productions. Since 2004, Bach and Sonja Zietlow present the German edition of the show I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! on channel RTL. And in 2005 Bach played the character Urmel in Urmel aus dem Eis. Since 2006 Bach has presented the German game show Frei Schnauze on channel RTL.

Bach is a German LGBT-activist, is a vegetarian^[2] and is member of the LSVD. Bach also helps Amnesty International and the organization PETA. He lives together with his partner Thomas in Cologne.^[3]

Bach is part of the campaign to bring the 2010 Gay Games to Cologne.^[4]

Television[link]

• 1983: Kiez / Kiez - Aufstieg und Fall eines Luden
• 1984: Im Himmel ist die Hölle los / Hullygully in Käseburg
• 1986: Kir Royal (TV series)
• 1988: Krieg der Töne (TV experimental film)
• 1989: Im Jahr der Schildkröte
• 1993: Kein Pardon
• 1994: Die Weltings vom Hauptbahnhof - Scheidung auf Kölsch (TV series)
• 1994: Drei zum Verlieben (TV series)
• 1995: Nich' mit Leo
• 1995: Marys verrücktes Krankenhaus (TV series)
• 1996: Lukas (TV series)
• 1997: Rendezvous des Todes (TV)
• 1998: Frau Rettich, die Czerni und ich
• 1998: Varell & Decker (TV series)
• 1999: Zum Sterben schön (TV)
• 2001: Das Rätsel des blutroten Rubins (TV)
• 2001: Der Mann, den sie nicht lieben durfte (TV)
• 2002: Der kleine Mönch (TV series)
• 2003: Karlchens Parade
• 2003: Crazy Race 2 – Warum die Mauer wirklich fiel (TV)
• 2003: Suche impotenten Mann für's Leben
• 2005: Popp Dich schlank! (TV)
• 2005: Urmel aus dem Eis (TV)
• 2006: Zwei zum Fressen gern (TV)
• 2006: Crazy Race 3 – Sie knacken jedes Schloss (TV)
• 2007: Die ProSieben Märchenstunde - Des Kaisers neue Kleider
• 2009: Einfach Bach
• 2010: Teufel Gott und Kaiser - Nibelungenfestspiele Worms - 16.07.2010 bis 1.8.2010

References[link]

1. ^ NDR
2. ^ Dirk Bach - Biography
3. ^ Bild
4. ^ Gay Games VIII in Cologne^{[dead link]}.

External links[link]

• Dirk Bach in Internet Movie Database
• Literature on Dirk Bach in German National Library

Live gig of Guildo Horn at a city festival in Duisburg, 2003.

Guildo Horn, 2004.

Guildo Horn (German pronunciation: [ˈɡɪldo ˈhɔʁn]; born February 15, 1963 in Trier as Horst Köhler, not related to former German President Horst Köhler, is a German schlager singer. He is mainly famous for his eccentric stage persona, which includes outrageous clothes and very extroverted antics.

At the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, he came in 7th with the title "Guildo hat euch lieb!" (Guildo loves you!).

He has served alongside Olympic trampolining champion Anna Dogonadze and referee Markus Merk as ambassador for his native state of Rhineland-Palatinate for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Discography (Albums)[link]

• Rückkehr nach Mendocino (1992)
• Sternstunden der Zärtlichkeiten (1995)
• Danke! (1997)
• Schön! (1999)
• Der König der Möwen (2002)
• Guildo Horn featuring Pomp & Brass (2003)
• Essential (2005)
• Die Rocky Horny Weihnachtsshow (2005)
• Erhebet die Herzen (2008)

A complete Discography (including all Singles and collaborations can be found here.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Guildo Horn

• Guildo Horn in the German National Library catalogue (German)
• Official Site
• Fanpage